Professor Wilfred Chan joined the staff in 1959. One of his major contributions to the department and the university was The Mona Symposium series, which although initiated by Leonard Haynes, was executed by him. His greatest impact, however, was in the development of a very productive research school, studying compounds from local plants. His work on elucidation of natural product structures was outstanding and a number of his students went on to fulfilling academic careers. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (1972-1973). In 1979 he moved to the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago to enhance research activities there. He later became Head of the Chemistry Department at that campus.